This one really is all that it is cracked up to be. Best all-rounder I've tasted yet, by quite a long shot. Ignore the price of admission; you won't regret it.

If you like a super smokey and peaty scotch, Peat Monster Reserve delivers better than any other I've tasted. Greatly preferred to the usual Oban, etc.

I always keep a 1.75 of Woodford in the cabinet...ironic since I collect Maker's bottles (unopened), but never keep any for drinking. Also love High West's Rendezvous Rye...picked up 2 cases of it right before they ran out. Shockingly impressive for the price. I've lately begun dabbling in white whiskeys...I'd highly reccommend checking some out for a completely different road to travel down. Buffalo Trace White Dog #1 and High West Silver are two great places to start.

Also just cracked open a bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban; one of the best new scotches I've had in a while (in a market that becomes increasingly saturated by the day), it has a rich smoothness that is no doubt accentuated by the port casks in which it is aged.

Also just cracked open a bottle of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban; one of the best new scotches I've had in a while (in a market that becomes increasingly saturated by the day), it has a rich smoothness that is no doubt accentuated by the port casks in which it is aged.

@DefactoM6, that series of Glenmorangie has absolutely amazed me. I'm relatively new to the world of Scotch (~8 years), but in the beginning, my tastes ran rather expensive. Macallan 18, @ $150/bottle, was the cheapest fit I could find. After a while, I made it my mission to find good bottles under $75. Glenmorangie gave me 4 (Lasanta, Quinta Ruban, Nector d'Or, and Finealta). Finealta busted the limit by a few dollars, but was still under $100. Unfortunately, I can't find the Finealta around here any more and I have maybe two fingers left.

@DefactoM6 , that series of Glenmorangie has absolutely amazed me. I'm relatively new to the world of Scotch (~8 years), but in the beginning, my tastes ran rather expensive. Macallan 18, @ $150/bottle, was the cheapest fit I could find. After a while, I made it my mission to find good bottles under $75. Glenmorangie gave me 4 (Lasanta, Quinta Ruban, Nector d'Or, and Finealta). Finealta busted the limit by a few dollars, but was still under $100. Unfortunately, I can't find the Finealta around here any more and I have maybe two fingers left.

@nawlinstornado....<3 Finealta, didn't realize they stopped making it; I might be able to arrange something, gotta make a call.

As for redbreast, for starters, AFAIK, it's still the only whisky currently on sale that is made in a pure pot still, which is what drew me in initially. I personally prefer the 12 to the 15, as the flavors are much more prominent and complex than the 15, IMHO. As for what it's like, it's a sweet, vanilla-y nose that continues through the sip. It sips super smooth, with the aforementioned sweet vanilla notes, along with some really nice nutty hints, and it finishes smooth and spicy. It's perfect to sit down with after a day at work.

I was the same way for a while, particularly with Scotch. Unfortunately, I had only tried Johnny Walker and a few other brands - none of them excited me. Then a friend educated me a bit and I learned I had experienced less than 1% of the available varieties. We talked about my preferences for a while and then he had me sample a few based on our discussion. Lo' and behold, I found some that were absolutely delicious. Since that day, I have been on a whisky adventure.

If you want to learn more about Scotch or other whisky, tastings are a lot of fun and give you a chance to try a wide variety of flavors. Then you can focus on particular areas-of-interest with your own collection.

If you want to learn more about Scotch or other whisky, tastings are a lot of fun and give you a chance to try a wide variety of flavors.

Forgot to mention, there is usually a decent selection of hotties at these events. Some are educated, cultured ladies genuinely interested in whisky; others are looking for wealthy men to hang out with. Either way, great hunting environment.